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Cliff: I lack the judging X Factor

Cliff Richard has said he wouldn't make a great X Factor judge - because he "could never be the baddy".

The Summer Holiday singer spends most of the year living in sunnier climes, but enjoys catching up with TV singing contest when he's back in the UK.

Sir Cliff, who has enjoyed six decades of success in the music industry, said: "I don't think I'd be a very good judge. I don't like confrontation.

"If I was a judge, I would have to think of something positive so that they don't go away destroyed. For me the losers, sometimes I would vote them better than the winners because they're all of a great quality.

"I would want to cushion it. I could never be the baddy."

Meanwhile, X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos has told the Metro working on the show can be straining.

She said: "It has been a journey and very life consuming. It does become your world. Literally. It takes over your life."

Sir Cliff - whose new DVD, Cliff Richard The Soulicious Tour Live At The 02 is out now - said the contestants who lose out in this weekend's final don't have to hang up their microphones for good.

"The X Factor's given a fantastic boost to a lot of young singers, and I hope that losing that show doesn't mean that they consider their life over. It should be seen as a step up to something else.

"There can only be one winner on those shows and it doesn't mean that all the others were bad singers, there'll be an audience for nearly all of them."